Conway Robinson State Forest is a
state forest
A state forest or national forest is a forest that is administered or protected by some agency of a sovereign or federated state, or territory.
Background
The precise application of the terms vary by jurisdiction. For example:
* In Australia, a ...
in
Prince William County, Virginia
Prince William County is located on the Potomac River in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population sits at 482,204, making it Virginia's second-most populous county. Its county seat is the independent city of Manass ...
, near
Manassas National Battlefield Park
Manassas National Battlefield Park is a unit of the National Park Service located in Prince William County, Virginia, north of Manassas that preserves the site of two major American Civil War battles: the First Battle of Bull Run, also called th ...
. It serves as a wildflower and
wildlife sanctuary
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or o ...
. The forest covers of pine plantation, mixed pine, and old-growth hardwoods and is one of the largest tracts of undeveloped land owned by the Commonwealth in
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia, locally referred to as NOVA or NoVA, comprises several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. It is a widespread region radiating westward and southward from Washington, D.C. Wit ...
.
History
The Conway Robinson State Forest was named after
Conway Robinson
Conway Robinson (September 15, 1805 – January 30, 1884) was a Virginia lawyer, author, slaveholder and politician aligned with the Democratic Party who represented Richmond, Virginia during the 1852-1853 session of the Virginia House of Delega ...
, a 19th-century lawyer, historian, and author from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is most famous for having argued approximately 100 cases before the
Supreme Court of the United States and being a founding member of the
Virginia Historical Society
The Virginia Museum of History and Culture founded in 1831 as the Virginia Historical and Philosophical Society and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a major repository, research, and teaching center for Virginia history. It is a private, n ...
. The Conway Robinson Park Memorial Association sought to perpetuate the memory of him as a distinguished Virginian through the development of a state forest, which was eventually established in February 1938.
[
]
Description
The Conway Robinson State Forest is owned and maintained by the Virginia Department of Forestry
The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) was established in 1914 to prevent and suppress forest fires and reforest bare lands. Since its inception, the agency has grown and evolved to encompass other protection and management duties:
*Protecting ...
. Forest management activities include tree planting and harvesting, as well as actions to enhance water quality, aesthetics and wildlife. Management is guided by the original deed, which limits tree removal except for the improvement of the forest's resources and habitat. In addition, the forest provides space for research projects by college or university students, tours and demonstrations, and other educational activities.[
]
Public use and access
The forest serves as a recreation area with various uses. It features approximately of multi-use trails, which may be used for hiking, mountain biking, trail riding, and geocaching
Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", at specific l ...
. The forest is open to the public for recreation activities during daylight hours. Camping and motorized vehicles are prohibited.[
A State Forest Use Permit is required for visitors aged 16 or older to ride horses, ride mountain bikes, hunt, and trap. A State Forest Use Permit is not required for those using the forest for walking or hiking. A valid Virginia hunting license in addition to a State Forest Permit is required for hunting or trapping within the forest.]
See also
* List of Virginia state forests
The Virginia state forest system includes 26 state-managed forests covering a total of . They are managed by the Virginia Department of Forestry.
The system was created to manage and maintain forests for wildlife, timber production, recreation, ...
References
External links
Virginia Department of Forestry: Conway Robinson State Forest
Virginia state forests
Protected areas of Prince William County, Virginia
Protected areas established in 1938
1938 establishments in Virginia
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